Niña Ytang after final UP game: ‘Pangarap ko lang po makapag-aral, tapos nandito ako sa UAAP’

Niña Ytang has been one of the core players and standouts for the UP women’s volleyball team in her collegiate career.

A three-time 2nd Best Middle Blocker from Seasons 85 to 87, Ytang’s collegiate journey ended last Sunday as the Fighting Maroons played their last game of the season against the University of Santo Tomas.

While it may have ended with a loss, Ytang is very grateful for her journey in Diliman.

“I'm very grateful po sa naging experience po namin lahat. Grateful po ako kay Lord kasi dinala niya ako, and hindi po ako nag-expect na magpunta ako dito,” Ytang said.

“Dati, pangarap ko lang po kasi makapag-aral ng libre, tapos nandito ako sa UAAP, naglaro.”

(I'm very grateful for what we all experienced. I'm grateful to the Lord because He brought me here and I never expected to be here... My dream was just to study for free, but now, I'm able to be here in the UAAP, playing.)

Ytang also thanked all five coaches she had in her five playing years — Godfrey Okumu, Shaq delos Santos, Oliver Almadro, Benson Bocboc, and Fabio Menta.

“Sobrang grateful po kami na kahit ganun po, marami pa rin po kaming natutunan sa kanila. Ang dami po nilang itinuro sa amin, hindi bilang isang player, kundi paano maging isang mabuting tao.

“Grateful talaga po ako sa UP. Binuo n’yo po ako, binuo n’yo po kami.

“Lagi ko pong dadalhin 'yung pagmamahal ko po para sa UP at sa UAAP,” said Ytang, who has also declared for the PVL Draft.

(We're so grateful because even if it ended like this, I learned a lot from all of them. They taught us a lot, not just as a player, but about being a good person. I'm really grateful to UP. You molded me, you molded us all. I'll always carry with me my love for UP and the UAAP.)

Aside from Ytang, Irah Jaboneta and Joan Monares are also exiting the Fighting Maroons.

—JMB, GMA News